Grayson Murray, who won his second PGA Tour victory at this year’s Sony Open in Hawaii, died Saturday.
“We were shocked to discover and are heartbroken to convey that PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray died this morning. “I am at a loss for words,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan stated. “The PGA Tour is a family, and losing a member changes you forever. We grieve Grayson and wish for consolation for his family.
“I reached out to the Grayson Murray parents to offer our deepest condolences, and during that conversation, they asked that we continue with tournament play,” said Commissioner Monahan.
“They insisted that Grayson Murray would want us to do so. As unpleasant as it may be, we want to honor their preferences.”
Grief counselors are offered at this week’s PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour tournaments. Commissioner Monahan, who went from TOUR headquarters in Florida to Fort Worth, Texas, stated that further information will be released whenever it is available.
Grayson Murray, 30, was a superb golfer in his childhood. He won three Callaway Junior World Championships in a row (2006–08) and was the top-ranked golfer in his age group.
He earned his first Korn Ferry Tour cut at the age of 16, making him the second-youngest player ever. After attending Wake Forest University, East Carolina University, and Arizona State University, he received the break he needed in 2016 when he was granted a sponsor exemption to the Korn Ferry Tour event near his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina.
He finished in the top ten of that tournament, the Rex Hospital Open, qualifying him for another start. His professional career took off after he finished in the top ten again in the BMW Charity Pro-Am.
He finished the season with a victory at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, finishing second on the Korn Ferry Tour money list and earning full PGA Tour credentials for 2016–17. The triumph came just a week before his 23rd birthday.
As a rookie, Murray made an immediate impact on golf’s greatest stage. He won the 2017 Barbasol Championship while still just 23 years old. His final-round 68 not only earned him a one-shot win but also a two-year exemption for the 2019 PGA Tour season. He finished 66th in the FedEx Cup, earning roughly $1.5 million.
Grayson Murray struggled for several seasons on the PGA Tour. In 2023, he rediscovered his skills on the Korn Ferry Tour, winning two events—the Advent Health Championship in Kansas City and the Simmons Bank Open outside of Nashville—to finish fourth on the tour’s points list and earn a seat back on the PGA Tour for the following season.
Grayson Murray started the 2024 season with a playoff win at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He made a crucial up-and-down on the 72nd hole for a birdie, forcing a playoff. Then he made a 40-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to beat Byeong Hun An and Keegan Bradley. Following his victory, he rose to 46th place in the Official World Golf Ranking, a career best.
